Jf Hache (1730-1796) Precious Living Room Dresser

Important and convenient 18th century museum from the Transition period stamped "HACHE FILS - A GRENOBLE" for Jean-François Hache (1730-1796) the eldest of the famous Hache dynasty, the cabinetmaker of the Duke of Orleans governor of Dauphiné. Note the presence of its original commercial label on the left side door (corresponding to label n ° 8 dated 1773 Grenoble). It has a very elegant jumping-shaped structure curved on all sides, opening with two rows of drawers and two delicately curved side doors. The set adorned with a sumptuous marquetry composed of beautiful moiré, cloudy and tinted loupes that combine with the use of exotic woods deploying a rich decoration with patterns of flowering branches adorned with a butterfly and a dragonfly, the set in medallions and frames. These marquetries hold genius as they are so diverse, with bright and contrasting tones and at the same time very precise and admirably drawn. The bronze ornamentation is original and finely chiseled, it consists of acanthus winding pull handles flanked by a Greek-style wave pattern, a foliated foliage apron and Rocaille locks. , original locks (key missing) with the specific Hache trademark. It is topped with its original marble richly veined in royal red and turquoise blue molded on the field of a corbin and a central projection. It rests on four arched feet adorned with "pastilles". Very refined ceremonial piece of furniture offered in superb original condition, very thick and very bright veneer highlighted by a real stamp varnish. Dimensions: 1.42m long X 89cm high X 67cm deep. Provenance: private collection, France. The eldest son of cabinetmaker Pierre Hache (1703-1776), Jean-François, was the most famous member of the Hache dynasty. After years of apprenticeship in the family workshop, he launched his own business in 1754, but continued to work with his father. When his father retired in 1770, Jean-François took over the workshop. Very quickly, he had several workshops and counted among his customers the most important inhabitants of his region. He produced furniture of the greatest luxury as well as all the furnishings in the house. From the start, he used his father's stamp to sign his works, to which he added "sons". Besides the famous Parisian workshops, that of Hache in Grenoble, founded by Thomas Hache at the beginning of the 18th century, is one of the most productive and remarkable French workshops of European carpentry. Thomas (1721) as well as his son Pierre (1757) and his grandson Jean-François (approx. 1770) received the high distinction "Cabinetmaker and Guard (of Furniture) from Monsignor the Duke of Orleans". The many woods - amboine, thuja, walnut, ash, maple, mulberry, sycamore and lemon - adorned the basic structure of the furniture, mainly designed with grained roots. The root grain with its very lively appearance was not only a typical wood choice for Axes, but also a striking visual highlight of the furniture, which therefore did not depend on expensive bronze fittings. The more precise division of tasks within the Hache workshop could be determined from the latest research into important approaches. Pierre and Jean-François worked in the same family business. Today, however, it is considered certain that Jean-François began to embark on an independent path from around 1745. The two great masters had their own personal collaborators. Jean-François traveled several times to Paris in 1755/56 and spent several months there in the workshop of the famous "Cabinet maker of the King" Jean-François Oeben. Its influence is clearly seen in the work of Jean-François, in particular in the evolution of the marquetry of flowers and garlands for furniture around 1760. It is also the time when we can date the real " breakthrough ”by Jean-François within the family business. Father and son probably had separate internal accounts, which was consistent with the simultaneous use of the HACHE A GRENOBLE and HACHE FILS A GRENOBLE stamps. In 1770 they provided President V. de la Tour with an important cylinder desk (formerly the collection of Countess D. de Bonvouloir), still preserved today and signed by the two masters - by the father as a carpenter, by the son in that of cabinetmaker. Bed. : P. Kjellberg, French furniture of the eighteenth century, Paris 1989; P. 380 F. (Biographical information). M. Clerc, Hache Ebénistes in Grenoble, Grenoble 1997; Pp. 12-68 (biographical information). R. Fonvieille, La dynastie des Hache, Grenoble 1974 (biographical information).